Title: The Fullness of GodFocus: In order to be right with God, we must be right with our brethren. In order to be right without brethren, we must be right with God.
Function: To increase the love and devotion of the brethren to one another in God
Text: Matt 5-7
Intro: 1. "I am somebody" (1 Cor 1 - God made nobodies sombodies) 2. That is the thought for our text (Mt 5:3, 10) a. Jesus went up on the mountain b. Expounds on the torah for the kingdom 3. Exod 21-23 - Just like the covenant code, relationships are prominent 4. Jesus explanation on Mt 5:17 - To "fulfill" or "make full" the law and prophets (Mt 13:48; 23:32; Ax 5:3 - other uses of word to "fill" I. The fullness on righteousness (5:20-24) A. Righteousness must surpass scribes and pharisees 1. How? They are the pious or separated ones 2. According to Josephus, they were highly respected B. Jesus ties righteousness with relationships 1. Torah said don't commit murder - How did Jesus make this full? 2. Don't be "angry" with your brother a. Eph 4:26 - Be angry and yet do not sin, do not let the son go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity b. Does not say be angry with brother and sin not 3. Don't insult your brother a. I've seen this online and in so called sound journals b. Serious enough to go to hell over this 4. Is it righteous to criticize song leaders, whisper about the elders, run down the preacher and talke about the deacons? a. I'm not angry, I'm not insulting (to their face) b. Then go around whispering and talking about someone C. ILL: Skit - "We are one in the spirit" 1. Church in Texas - Fist fight over matters of doctrine 2. I was threatened by a member at a church in Arkansas 3. One church split after a member shot another in Arkansas 4. See a problem here? In the interest of sound doctrine!!! D. Jesus' prerequesite for approaching God (v.23-24) 1. Cannot be right with God and not be right with brother 2. Isa 1 - God rejected worship due to bad relationships 3. Relationship with God is not merely vertical, it is triangular 4. Can't "slide" in and out of fellowship any more than in marriage 5. Worship not acceptable if strife with brother E. Maybe this is why Jesus said, blessed are peacemakers II. The fullness on being children of God (5:43-48) A. Blessed are the peacemakers, shall be called sons of God B. This passage teaches that love is universal 1. Love enemies, pray for persecutors 2. God's love higher than worldly love (46-47) 3. Reason to love (v.45, 48) - Be as God is to others 4. We are "children" of God - We are to be "like our Father" C. ILL: Val and abusive father (didn't "feel" like forgiving and loving) 1. Do something to "demonstrate" love and forgiveness 2. Become what you repeatedly do D. Are you like your Father when it comes to love? 1. Do you love enemies and pray for them? 2. In this text, it is ASSUMED that we love our brethren. 3. Do you love YOUR BRETHREN and pray for them? 4. I John 1:7 - What does it meant to walk in the light? a. I Jn 2:9-11 - Not loving is darkness b. I Jn 3:14-20 - Sign of Christian - Love E. ILL: Blackouts in Korea/ Depression where sun not shine - How dark or bright are we?? - Am I personally walking in the light by loving? - If so, congraduations, you are a child of God III. The Fullness on forgiveness and relationships (7:1-5) A. Mt 5:7 - Blessed are merciful, they shall receive mercy B. Expands on this in Mt 7:1-5 1. Do not judge. What does he mean by that? 2. One has bigger problem condemn one who has a little one a. Can't do any good to help others - you are blinded b. Focusing on speck takes attention of log c. Look to yourself first - If have humility to take the log out, will have the mercy to help with a speck 3. Jesus calls speck inspectors with a log "hypocrites" C. ILL: Mt 12:1-7 - Perfect example of speck inspection 1. Not to work or travel on the sabbath (technically they broke law) 2. What were the pharisees doing out there???? (they had log) a. Was Jesus impressed with Pharisees (Mt 23 woes) b. "Dangerous trend" argument (Pharisses called it - Putting a hedge around the Torah) c. Hedge became a test of fellowship 3. This why Paul gave these instructions (1 Tim 6:3-4; 2 Tim 2:14) 4. v.7 - I desire compassion, and not a sacrifice D. If you are hard on someone, God will be hard on you, and vice-versa 1. James 2:13 For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment. 2. We are typically harder on each other than God is Concl: 1. Mat 7:12 - Jesus sums up the law and the prophets 2. Mt 7:13-14 - What is the narrow way and gate? Includes one another! (Broad way is 5:46) 3. Mt 7:15-20 - False prophets, know by fruit (one is a lack of love and mercy) 4. Mt 7:21-23 - Not everyone who says Lord Lord (includes those who not love) 5. Understand the importance of one another relationships? 6. "I am somebody" - Remember that when you say "somebody ought to..." 7. Final exhortation - Be selfish (it is good when it comes to sermons) - Not generous where you give away sermon, and none left for self